Pence notches RBI single in first game with Phillies

PHILADELPHIA—Charlie Manuel recalls the night at the 2009 All-Star Game in St. Louis as National League manager when he couldn’t get Hunter Pence into the lineup. The first-place Phillies skipper is happy to say he won’t have that problem anymore.

“I told him last night, ‘I’ll find time for you now,'” laughed Manuel, moments before Pence arrived at Citizen’s Bank Park, where he was immediately swarmed by new teammates Ryan Howard, Placido Polanco and Shane Victorino prior to the Phils’ 7-4 win over the Pirates.

“Things come around,” Manuel said. “I’ll play him now.”

Batting in the No. 5 hole, Pence went 1-for-5 in his Phillies’ debut, lining an RBI single his final time up following an intentional well to Howard, after earlier stranding four runners in scoring position. While he was thrilled with that, the bottom line was the bigger thing.

“Wins kind of give you a different demeanor. The way it was going in Houston was rough. The losing wears on you.’”

Hours earlier, having arrived minus his spikes and most of his Reebok gear after closing the book on the Astros’ chapter of his life and waking up to see he’d improved 31 ½ games in the standings, Pence admitted he couldn’t wait to get started.

“It’s a pretty big swing and I’m really happy to be a part of team in the playoff race,” said Pence, who chose No. 3 with his options limited. “A lot of players never get this opportunity.

“But I’m thrilled to be here, ready to go.”

But before heading to his new clubhouse, Pence made sure to express his gratitude to the team he’d just left behind.

“The Astros did a lot for me and I’m very grateful for that and to all my teammates,” said Pence, reunited with former teammates Roy Oswalt and Brad Lidge. “We’ve been through a lot and I know they’re still battling to turn that around.

“There’s a lot of emotion, because I love those guys and want the best for them. And I think they’re all happy for me. Looking back in one way or another I think I’m gonna help the Astros still, because they got some good prospects.”

But he’ll help the Phillies a lot more, which is why his new adoring fans gave him a series of ovations throughout the night. From afar Pence has seen the love affair this city has with its ballclub, selling out the past 181 games. Now he’ll get to experience it for himself.

“When you come to Philadelphia and play in this stadium, you see the passion,’’ said Pence, a career .300 hitter with two homers and 6 RBIs in his new home. “You see the passion.

“You want to play in that intense environment. You want to be in a town where it’s exciting, where you’re competing for championships.

“And now those guys have my back.”

Good as that is for Pence, it’s even better for Manuel, Howard, Roy Halladay and the rest of the Phillies.